Illegal migration bill could topple world refugee system, lawmakers told

The government’s plans to curtail the rights of asylum seekers could lead to the collapse of the system of international protection for refugees, parliamentarians have been warned.

Vicky Tennant, the UK representative at the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), told MPs and peers on the joint committee on human rights that she had serious concerns about the implications of the illegal migration bill if it becomes law. The bill is proceeding through parliament.

The government says the bill will deter people from illegally entering the UK, including those who cross the Channel in dinghies or hide in the backs of lorries, combat people smuggling and make it easier to remove people who do not have a legal right to remain. Ministers say it will also allow for an annual cap on the number of people admitted to the UK under “safe and legal” asylum routes.

On Wednesday, the committee heard evidence about whether the bill is compatible with the UK’s obligations under the European convention on human rights and international human rights and refugee treaties.

Tennant warned that the legislation could have a “domino effect” on other countries. “It’s potentially moving towards the collapse of this international system, which is not in anyone’s interest,” she said. “It would set a really unfortunate precedent.”

She added that at the heart of the refugee convention is a framework in which states agree to cooperate with each other and share responsibility. “You see the UK pulling back from its responsibilities … That is being watched, there’s an impact, there are consequences, that’s very worrying.

“We have a profile of people coming across the Channel which is largely a refugee profile. The bill is essentially extinguishing their right to asylum. It would cover anyone who arrives in the UK in an unauthorised manner.”

Ministers have said that the legislation would deter asylum seekers from travelling to the UK via these unauthorised routes, but Tennant expressed doubt about this. “Our view is that there is no evidence that it would act as a deterrent,” she said.

She urged the government to look instead at processing claims more quickly and setting up agreements for people who did not have a valid asylum claim to be returned to their home country if it was safe to do so.

“The solution is in regional cooperation. If we pursue a series of unilateral measures, that pushes responsibility on to other countries, that undermines the trust for the regional cooperation,” she said.